Centaurus senior Midori Patterson is a regular member of the Warriors’ rotation, but her freshman sister, Emiko, also was suited up — for Monarch. There was no guarantee Emiko would play, but she got a few minutes of action.

“It was weird, because I’m used to watching her play and saying, ‘Oh, look how cute they all are,’” Midori Patterson said. “Now she’s playing at the same level as me.”

The academically gifted sisters attend different schools for educational reasons, but have always supported the other’s team.

“I caught myself clapping for Centaurus a few times,” Emiko Patterson said with a laugh.

The Patterson sisters also are avid soccer players, but Monarch and Centaurus don’t meet this spring in that sport. That meant this was their lone head-to-head meeting, although there wasn’t much one-on-one competition.

“I took her out right as Emiko went in, and then Emiko came out right when I put ‘Dori in,” Centaurus coach Jeff Jackson said.

Emiko Patterson is still learning the Coyotes system on the JV team, but it’s a good bet that she’ll eventually morph into a household name in the varsity rotation.

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“As a freshman coming up, she’s got some skills that we’re going to hone,” Monarch coach Chris Lewis said. “If she keeps working hard, she could see some more time on varsity.”